Unless something drastic happens in the next six weeks, the federal sequester cuts that took effect earlier this year could prevent local sea cadets from using their training vessel this summer.

The first cruise of the year for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Great Lakes Division is generally held on Memorial Day weekend, but funding cuts means that the Pride of Michigan -- an 80-foot vessel -- could remain docked in late May this year.

But despite the loss of federal funding, Luke Clyburn, a White Lake Township resident and captain of the sea cadet program, is confident that the ship will make its Memorial Day journey.

"We've got the option of quitting, but that's not our makeup," Clyburn said of the program.

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"It's a matter of how we raise the money."

The federal funds that make up the program's $125,000 annual budget generally cover ship insurance and fuel. Everyone who works on the ship is a volunteer.

"It takes money to make things happen," Clyburn said.

"The money that's put into the program is not going into salaries or administration. One-hundred percent is going into maintaining the ship, keeping it in operation. The dollars we spend for that are very small compared to so many programs, and the return on the dollar is great."

Madison Heights resident Amie MacDonald agrees.

"I can't say enough about (the program), honestly," MacDonald said.

MacDonald's son Billy, 14, is in his second year in the program.

"It's too important of a program, and it's done so much for so many families," MacDonald said. "It would be heartbreaking that they couldn't go under way this year because of the budget cuts."

MacDonald is organizing fundraising efforts, including an upcoming auction, in an effort to gather enough money for some training aboard the ship this summer.

"We have to make a go of it on our own, and we'll do whatever we have to do," she said.

"It will be a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but all the parents are on board."

The sea cadet program -- which has been in existence locally for 40 years -- does a great job shaping children, MacDonald said.

"It's really just kept Billy on a great road," she said.

"As parents, we are at risk of losing our kids to the streets or drugs or whatever they could be negatively impacted by. The only reason this program is not overflowing with kids is because the parents don't know about it."

Graduates have gone on to the U.S. Naval Academy, Navy SEAL training program, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Webb Institute and even to work with Jean-Michael Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau.

"These kids, they're incredible," MacDonald said. "When they enter the program, it just sort of molds these young men and women into leaders. They're just all success stories. I can't say enough about it."

The kids involved in the program, all of whom are between the ages of 11 and 17, operate the entire ship.

"They run the whole thing," MacDonald said. "They run the engine room. They're at the helm."

Participants also learn CPR and diving. They attend boot camp, and they're expected to move up at least one rank each year.

Those ranks have meaning.

"Once they reach E3 level, if they were to decide to go into the U.S. military, their rank travels with them," MacDonald said.

"If they went into academy, they would end up coming out a pay grade or two ahead of their peers."

MacDonald hopes to see the Pride of Michigan set sail soon.

"I don't know when that's going to happen now," she said.

"We've got a lot of fundraising to do."

Without the federal funds, the program will probably suffer from cuts, Clyburn said.

"We probably have to cut way back, but my target is to have the boat under way by Memorial Day weekend," he said.

"My goal is to get the ship out there. We might not be Up North, but we're certainly not going to stop the cadet program."